Method and apparatus for applying caps to bottles



Sept; 19, 1939. J R GAMMETER 2,173,803

METHOD AND APPARATUS'FOR APPLYING CABS TO BOTTLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 3, 1936 INVE NTOR JOHN R, GANMETfR .BY

ATTORNEY J. R. GAMMETER Sept. 19, 1939.

2,173,803 vmm'non AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CAPS TO BOTTLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR To/7w R. QAMMET R ATTORNEY Filed June 55,- 1936 Sept.- 19, ,1. R. GAMMETER METE'OD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CAPS TO BOTTLES- Filed June-'3, 193s sheets-sheet 3 UN & ew m INVENTOR MNETER A%RNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING oAPs To BOTTLES John R. Gammeter, Akron,

Ohio, assignor of 15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle capping methods andapparatus and more particularly to improvements in the apparatus disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 29,693, filed July 3, 1935. The invention is more particularly adapted for applying to milk bottles and the like, caps of the type disclosed in my 'copending application Serial No. 14,248, filed April 2, 1935.

In my aforesaid copending apparatus application I have disclosed a machine in which bottles are adapted to be brought into alignment with a magazine containing a plurality of cans each of which comprises parallel top and bottom portions, the latter having an opening therein to receive a plurality of fingers which grip the bottom portion of the lower cap spreading same into a skirt and placing the cap on a bottle. This machine has worked satisfactorily but it has been found desirable to direct a blast of air into the opening in the cap to assist the fingers to more readily engage the cap, and it is, therefore, anobject of this invention to provide means for directing such air blast and to move such means out of the way of the fingers at the appropriate time.

When the caps are made wholly or partly of a film that does not easily stretch, for example, of a rubber hydrohalide film, such as is disclosed in Calvert Patent No. 1,989,632, January 29, 1935, which product is obtainable on the market under the trade name"Pliofllm, it'has been found desirable to heat the air directed againstthe cap so as to render the material more pliable and it is another object of the present invention to provide this heated air.

A further object is to provide means for moving the cap containing magazine a predetermined amount to assist the fingers in gripping the caps, and to generally improve the mechanism disclosed in my prior application.

A further object is to provide a novel method for applying caps to bottles, particularly when such caps are initially in the form of parallel discs having an opening in the lower disc.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is an enlarged bottom plan with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1 with some parts shown in elevation;

7 thereof when the fingers are in their upper po- Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3; I

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the lower end of the magazine and adjacent parts;

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken substan- 5 tially on line 6 -6 of Figure 1 with some parts shown in elevation; and

Figure 7 is a similar view taken substantially on line l- 'l of Figure 1 with parts broken away.

Referring to thedrawings, the numeral I0 11 designates a base which supports an upright or standard it having an integral annular bracket l2 formed at the upper end thereof to receive the upper end of a depending tubular member 63, the lower end of which extends into proximity 16 with the top of a milk bottle it or the like. Preferably the bracket I2 is split as at 5 and a bolt it is threaded through lugs ll carried by the bracket on opposite sides of the split whereby tightening of bolt 56 will rigidly secure tube i3 20 within the bracket at any suitable height. If desired, the standard it may be made vertically adjustable in accordance with the disclosure in -my. said copending application. The lower end of tube l3 has an annular cam member I8 arranged thereon, a ring l9 being fitted around the upper portion of the cam member and a screw 20 being threaded through the cam and ring into engagement with the tube substantially as shown in Figure 6, to secure the cam and ring to the tube. A plurality of spaced guides 2! are formed integral with ring it and extend above the arcuate surface 22 of the cam member. The foregoing parts of the apparatus are all stationary during the operation thereof.

Slidably mounted on tube l3 below bracket 12 is a sleeve 23, the lower end of which has one end of a plurality of spaced fingers 24 pivotally se-' cured thereto as at 25, which fingers are offset as at 25 to engage the cam surface 22 for actuation thereby, The free ends of fingers 24 are bent substantially into U-shape with the ends 26 disposed adjacent the axis of tube l3 and extending slightly into the tube at the lower end sition shown in full lines in Figures 3 and 6. A

spring or elastic band 21 encircles the fingers and tends to maintain them in the position shown in Figure 3. Sleeve 23 and fingers 24 are adapted to be moved from the full line to the broken line position shown in Figure 6. To prevent turning of sleeve 23 on tube l3 a longitudinal s1ot 26 is provided in the tube to slidably receive a key or projection 21' on the sleeve.

As clearly shown in Figure 4, bracket I2 is a plurality of bolts 36 2 t v provided with spaced openings 28 which slidably receive rods 23 carrying a sleeve 30 attheir upper ends. This sleeve (Figures 3 and .6)' has an annular seat 3| therein which receives an annular collar 32 thatslidably encircles a tubular magazine 33 which extends into tube I3 and terminates a slight distance above the lower end of the latter. The upper end of magazine 33 has an extension 34 press fitted thereon, a flange 35 on said extension being adapted to receive which extend into collar 32 and have nuts 31 thereon. The arrangement is such that bolts 36 may be turned to raise and lower the magazine and thus adjust the position of the lower end thereof with respect to the lower end of tube I3. It will be apparent that the magazine may be readily lifted out of tube |3 since it is supported therein by collar 32 which can be lifted from its seat 3 I. The magazine is adapted to be filled with a plurality of caps 38 which I initially have their upper and lower portions 39 and 48 respectively arranged parallel, an opening 4| being provided in the lower portion of each cap, and on the lower end of the magazine is arranged an extension 42 having an inwardly directed flange 43, which flange serves to prevent the caps falling out of the magazine. A longitudinal slot 44 (Figure 3) -is provided in the magazine to facilitate filling same with caps, said slot permitting entrance of an object, such as an operators finger, upon which a stack of caps may be placed, said object and caps being readilylowered into the magazine, as will be understood.

Means are provided for raising and lowering sleeve 23 with its fingers 24, such means also serving to silghtly raise and lower the magazine. Asshown, the reduced end 45 of a stub shaft 46 is threaded into bracket l2 (Figure 3), and a cam wheel 41 is rotatably mounted -on this shaft, said wheel preferably being held in place by a plate or washer 48 having a screw 43 extending through the plate into shaft 46. A cam groove 50 is arranged in wheel 41 and receives a roller 5! rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 52 secured in sleeve 30. Cam wheel 41 has the reduced end 53 of a stub shaft 54 threaded thereinto, said shaft 54 having a handle 55 secured thereon as at 56 and having one end of a crank arm 51 mounted thereon. The other end of crank arm 51 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 58 havin its reduced end 59 threaded into sleeve 23. A plate 60 and screw 6| preferably are utilized to retain arm 51 on shaft 58. It will be noted that by turning handle 55, cam wheel 41 will rotate and due to the peculiar arrangement of cam groove 50 willraise and lower the magazine, and simultaneously, crank arm 51 will raise and lower sleeve 23.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7, an enlarged portion 62 is provided on standard H to receive a unit which directs the passage of air into the lower end of tube l3. This unit is secured to the standard by screws 63 which extend through meeting faces 64 of the unit and standard, said unit having a tube or pipe 65 provided v -with an air passage 66, the upper end of said pipe being curved as at 61 whereby it will tightly rest communicates with passage 1| and with an opening 16 formed in one end of a lever arm 1 which is pivoted on the trunnion., One end of an arcuate tube 11 is tightly fitted into the opening 15, as by sweating, and the arrangement is such that a continuous passage is provided from chamber 10 to the free end of tube 11. Withtube 11 secured to the pivoted end of arm 16 the tube and arm can be swung about trunnion 12 in the manner of a bell crank, and a coil spring 18 is arranged onthe annular portion 19 of arm 16 to normally urge said arm and tube 11 toward the broken line position illustrated in Figure 6, the ends of the spring being secured respectively to said arm and pipe 65.

The opposite end of arm 16 is pivoted to the lower end of a vertical rod 86 as at 6|, the upper end of said rod having an elongated slot 82 which receives a pin 83 mounted on one end of a lever 84 pivoted as at 85 to the pipe 65. The other end of lever 84 is arranged in the path of travel of an enlarged portion 86 formed on lower end of sleeve 23 whereby movement of lever 84 from the broken to the full line position shown in Figure 6 is accomplished by upward movement of sleeve 23. By virtue of the elongated slot 82 a period of lost motion is provided which will be referred to later. Secured to rod is a projection 81 which extends toward pipe 65 and which is adapted to limit the downward movement of said rod by engagement with a projection 88 on said pipe. A spring 89 is arranged on rod 80 between projection 81 and pin 83 to urge the latt-er to the upper end of slot 82.

Referring to Figure '1, a pipe 30 is adapted to extend into standard H to communicate with chamber 18, which pipe conducts air from a conventional blower or fan 3| into the chamber 10 from which it passes through the unit which directs it into contact with the caps in magazine 33. Under some conditions it is desirable to heat the air and I have shown a conventional heater 92 through which the air is adapted to pass after it leaves the blower 3|. When the heater is in operation hot air will be delivered tothe caps,

. but when not in operation the air merely passes through the heater without any substantial change in its temperature. I prefer to have a continuous passage of air through the connection from the blower, but if desirable, a suitable valve (not shown) could be arranged in the air line to provided for intermittent air blasts. The heater is used to heat the air when the caps. are made wholly or partly of a film that does not easily stretch, for example, of a rubber hydrohalide film, marketed under the trade name Pliofilm, since the heat renders such film more pliable and easier to handle.

In operating the apparatus, after magazine 33 has been filled with caps and assuming sleeve 23 and fingers 24 to be in their lowermost position shown in broken lines in Figure 6, handle 55 is turned to rotate cam wheel 41' in the direction indicated by the'arrow in Figure 6. Rotation of the cam wheel will move sleeve 23 and fingers 24 to their uppermost position and the cam groove 50 will move'roller 5| and consequently magazine 33 a'slight distance upwardly. In Figure 5 the relative amount of upward movement of magazine 33 is clearly shown from the broken line to the full line position. It should also be noted that as the fingers 24 extend through opening 4| in the lower cap they raise the entire stack of caps a slightamount. During upward movement of sleeve 23, projection 86 thereon will engage lever 84 causing the latter to push. rod 88 downwardly to swing air tube 11 into the full line position shown in Figure 6, where, since the flow of air from blower 8| is continuous, it will direct air against the stack of caps causing separation of the walls of the lower cap substantiallly as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6.

In order that air tube 1'! will direct air against the caps long enough to insure separation of the walls thereof, and in the event heated air is used to insure provision of suflicient heat before the air tube is retracted, I take advantage of the lost motion slot 82 in the following manner. As rod 80 moves downwardly spring .88 is sufliciently strong to hold pin 83 at the upper end of slot 82 until projection 88 prevents further movement of the rod, at which time air tube 11 will have reached its uppermost position. At this time sleeve 23 can still move upwardly a distance equal to the length of slot 82 and such continued movement of this sleeve causes pin 83 to move to the lower end of slot 82 against the action of spring as. Therefore, air tube 11 remains in its uppermostposition during the time the pin 83 is moving from the top to the bottom of slot 82,

Now, as rotation of the cam wheel continues, sleeve 23, fingers Mand magazine 33 beginto move downwardly and the fingers will begin to spread by reason of the cam surface 22 engaging the ofiset portions 25 thereof. At the time the ends it of the fingers spread enough to engage the bottom portion ill of the lower cap by contasting the wall of opening 38, sufficient air will still be directed against the caps to insure separation of the top and bottom portions'thereof whereby a positive grip on the cap will be secured by the fingers. The slight downward movement of magazine 33 also permits a better grip of the fingers on the lower cap than if the magazine is allowed to remain stationary. The stack, of caps will, of course, move to its lower position as soon as the fingers move out of the magazine. The movement of this stack upwardly has been necessary to provide sufifilcient room for-the separating of the walls of the lower cap and the weight of the stack on the finger ends insures a relatively strong surface for the air to impinge against in separating the walls of the lower cap. As fingers 26 continue their downward movement the lower portion of the lower cap is spread substantially as shown in broken lines in Figure 5 and continued spreading provides an opening sufiicient to permit the cap to pass over the top of a bottle l4 where it is placed as shown in Figure 6, the portion 40 which initially was parallel with portion 39 having become a skirt which tightly grips the bottle. While sleeve 23 is moving downwardly the spring i8 is returning rod 35 and lever 84 to their initial position and retracting air tube 11 to the broken line position shown in Figure 6. In the latter position air tube H is out of the path of the fingers with its free end extending into the space between two of the fingers, as will be understood. "In fact, the position of tube I1 at all'times is entirely clear of interference with the fingers.

The apparatus is adapted to be operated continuously by rotation of the handle in one direction only, and a cycle is completed for each bottle capped. As the bottles are placed in position they will be rapidly and efliciently capped.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred steps of my method and the preferred form of apparatus, it will be apparent that the invention is not so limited, and various modifications ing said opening therein said opening sufilciently to allow a bottle top to may be made within the scope oi the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of capping a bottle with a-cap formed of parallel discs having a substantially central opening in one of said discs which comprises directing a current of air into said opening to separate said discs, stretching, while the discs are separated, said disc having said opening therein to increase the size of said opening sumciently to allow a bottle top to pass therethrough and at the same time forming a skirt out of the latter disc to grip the bottle of, and placing said skirt over the top of the bottle,

2. The steps inthe method of capping a bottle with a cap formed of parallel discs having a substantially central opening in one of said discs whichcomprises directing a current of air into said opening to separate said discs, and stretching, while the discs are separated, said disc havto increase the size of pass therethrough and at a skirt out of the latter below the top thereof.

3'. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, a movable cap container, means for withdrawing a cap from said container, a common means for operating said first-named means and for moving said container, and means for directing a current of air into said container during at least a part of the operation of said cap withdrawing means,

4. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, a movable cap container, means for withdrawing a capfrom said container, a common means for operating said first-named means and for moving said container, means for directing a current oi air into said container during at least a part of the operation of said cap withdrawing means, and means for moving said air directing means out of the path of travel of said cap withdrawing means.

5. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, a cap container, means for withdrawing a cap from said container for placement over a bottle, means for directing a current of air against said cap prior to its withdrawal from said container, and means for moving said last named means out of the path of travel of said withdrawing means.

6. In bottle capping apparatus, the combination of a cap container, means for directing a current of air into said container, and means for moving said first-named means into and out of a position where air can be directed into said container.

'7. In bottle capping apparatus, the combination of a cap container, means for withdrawing a cap from said container, means for directing a current of air into said container, and means operable by said cap withdrawing means for moving said air directing means into a position where air can be directed into said container.

8. In bottle capping apparatus, the combina- "tion of a cap container, means for withdrawing a cap from said container including a sleeve slidable longitudinally of said container, means for directing a current of air into said container, and means operable by sliding said sleeve for moving said air directing means into a. position where air can be directed into said container.

9. In bottle capping apparatus, the combination of a cap container, means including a sleeve slidable longitudinally drawing a cap therefrom, means for directing a the same time forming disc to grip the bottle of said container for with-.

below the top therecurrent of air into said container, and a lever arranged inthe path of traveloi said sleeve and engageable for moving said air directing means into a position where air can be directed into said container.

10. In bottle capping apparatus, the combination of a cap container, means for directing a current of air into said container, means for moving said first named means into and out of a position where air can be directed into saidcontainer, and connections providing a predetermined period of lost motion of said first named means.

11 In bottle capping apparatus, the combination of a cap container and means for directing a current of air into said container, said means comprising a tube movable into and out of a position where air can be directed into said container, a lever for moving said tube, and connections between said tube and lever providing a definite period of lost motion of said tube during operation of said lever.

12. In bottle capping apparatus, the combination of a cap container, means for withdrawing a cap from said container, a tube for directin air into said container and movable into and out of a position where air can be directed into'; said container, and a lever operable by said cap withdrawing means for moving said tube.

13. In bottle capping apparatus, the combination of a cap container, means for withdrawing 2,178,808 a cap from said container, a tube for directing air into said container and movable into and out of a position where air can be directedinto said container, a lever operable by saidcap withdrawing means for moving said tube, and connections between said tube and" lever providing a predetermined period 01 lost motion of said tube during operation of said lever.

14. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, a cylindrical support, a tubular cap containing magazine arranged in said support and movable relatively thereto, a sleeve slidable on said support and carrying fingers for engaging and withdrawing a cap from said magazine, and a common means for sliding said sleeve and moving said magazine while a cap is being withdrawn from the latter.

15. In bottle capping apparatus, in combination, a cylindrical support, a tubular cap containing magazine arranged in said support and movable relatively thereto, a sleeve slidable on said support and carrying fingers for engaging and withdrawing a cap from said magazine, a common means for sliding said sleeve and moving said magazine while a cap is being withdrawn from the latter, and means operable by said sleeve for directing a current or air into said magazine prior to the withdrawal of said cap.

JGHN R. GAMIMETER. 

